Total Amount Spent in South Africa: 25,317 Rand + $800 ($3,778.50 at $1 = 8.5 Rand)
Exchange Rate: The currency fluctuated quite a bit while we were there. When we arrived, $1 = 10 Rand; when we left, $1 = 8 Rand.
Number of Days Spent in South Africa: 32 (March 18 – April 14; May 3-6, 2009)
Average Per Day Spending 791.16 Rand + $25 ($118.08 at $1 = 8.5 Rand)
BREAKDOWN BY CATEGORY
- Transportation: 3,661.25 Rand + $800
- Accomodations: 9,150.5 Rand
- Food: 4,923.35 Rand
- Activities: 3,964 Rand
- Shopping: 3,089.4 Rand
- Communication: 306 Rand
- Laundry: 122.5 Rand
FURTHER EXPLANATIONS
- The 32 day count includes the two days we spent in Swaziland and the day trip into Lesotho. Both countries accept Rand at a 1:1 rate with their local currency.
- We rented a car for a total of 48 days for a total price of $1,200. This comes down to a cost of $25 per day. The $800 included here accounts for the 32 days we had the car in South Africa. The additional $400 is figured into the costs for Namibia, Botswana, and Victoria Falls.
- Additional transportation costs come almost exclusively from gas, which was about 6.5 to 7 Rand per liter. We also had to pay some tolls in South Africa, which weren’t cheap. A typical toll was 30-50 Rand. And of course, transportation costs also include the price of tipping the car guides, the guys who wander the park lot, supposedly to insure that your car is not stolen. We just gave them a rand or two.
SAMPLE PRICES
- All-Access Pass for Two to South African National Parks: 1640 Rand
- Campsite at Kruger: 130 Rand
- Tent: 300 Rand
- Carved Wooden Chair in Swaziland: 120 Rand
- Internet: 40 Rand per hour
- Township Tour in Graaf-Reinet: 100 Rand per person
- Canoe Rental at Wilderness National Park: 120 Rand
- Ostrich Riding: 30 Rand per person
- Wine Tasting at Boschendal Winery: 15 Rand per person
- Backpackers in Cape Town: 400 Rand